Iranian president courts Indonesian support

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Thu, 05/11/2006 12:09 PM

Tony Hotland and Rendi Akhmad Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday sought Indonesian support for his country's controversial nuclear program, saying Western opposition would not dissuade Iran from pursuing its right to nuclear technology.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who leads the country with the world's largest Muslim population and which recently renewed full military ties with the United States, used the meeting to propose a new forum to revive stalled talks over Iran's nuclear program.

President Yudhoyono said, ""Indonesia believes that Iran's peaceful use of nuclear technology and other related issues can be resolved through diplomatic negotiations by involving more parties at the international level.""

Yudhoyono spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said the Iranian leader was receptive to the proposal, adding that Indonesia was ready to participate in such a forum.

The two presidents met at Merdeka Palace in Central Jakarta and vowed to enhance cooperation in all fields, particularly trade and investment.

Officials signed six deals -- on mutual administrative assistance in customs matters, a cultural exchange program, energy cooperation, small and medium industry, science and technology, and oil refineries.

Yudhoyono and Ahmadinejad will join other leaders this weekend at the fifth D-8 Summit of developing countries in Bali.

The U.S. and its allies are attempting to sanction Iran through the UN Security Council over its nuclear program, which they claim is non-peaceful. Iran disputes this allegation, steadfastly insisting its program is to pursue advanced fuel technology.

Members of the UN Security Council are facing a deadlock over a resolution to the crisis.

Ahmadinejad said he and Yudhoyono agreed it was the right of all nations to pursue advanced technology.

""(Big countries) are trying to monopolize modern technology and sciences, and they want to prevent an independent state from reaching the pinnacle of scientific knowledge and technology. They want to keep it their monopoly so they can sell it to other countries at a high price.

""They pretend they are concerned about the nature of the nuclear program of Iran. And this is a big lie ... it's clear because they themselves are also engaged in non-peaceful nuclear activities. They have it and are expanding day by day,"" Ahmadinejad said.

He said this struggle against Western powers was in defense not only of the rights of Iran or the Muslim world, but also of all nations to have access to advanced science and technology.

""We will absolutely not back off from our own rights and position ... incorrect decisions taken by any international authorities are resented by the Iranian people,"" he said.

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